Transformable container



Feb. 28, 1933. 4 w. s. MARR TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER Filed July 1931 4 Sheets Shee't l Feb. 28, 1933. w. s. MARR RANSFORMABLE CONTAINER 1 Filed July 3, 1931 4 Sfreets-Sheet 2 Zhmentor iV/v/l'am J .hZi'F/l Gttornegs 8, 1933. w. s. MARR 1,899,241

TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER Filed July 3, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Enveutor WW/am 5 jla/rg QM/1W attorney Feb. 28, 1933. w. s. MARR 1,899,241

TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER Filed July 3, 1931 4 Shuts-Sheet 4 Zmventor 7V7///am 5? MFA Patented 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. HARE, OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB BAKEBIES SERVICE. C RPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER Application filed July 8, 1931. Serial No. 548,860.

The present invention relates to containers so designed as to be capable each of assuming different forms to the end that subsequent to fulfillment of their ordinary utilitarian purpose, in one form, they may be rearranged to assume a different form in simulation of buildings or the like.

According to the invention, containers of initially substantially uniform dimensions are transformable into toy buildings of various designs. The containers, as marketed with their contents, are compact and durable, and, being of uniform size, are readily handled. As transformed, however, they may exhibit diiferent architectural and decorative features in simulation of dwelling houses and public and commercial buildings. By securing the complete series of designs, the purchaser will be enabled to lay out a miniature community with representative buildings.

The containers are preferably for d from series of blanks, which, while dfifi'ering specifically from each other, are adapted to be folded into the same initial form which is preferably that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In the accompanying drawings I have shown a number of structures embody-v ing certain features in common and other features peculiar to each, whereby the general purposes of the invention are attained, the showing being merely illustrative of the in- ,vention and not restrictive thereof, as will be understood.

In the drawings:

'Figure 1 is a perspective of a container in its initial form, this being typical of containers made in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective of the container of Figure 1 in its secondary arrangement.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the partially folded blank which may take the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2. v

Figure 4 is a partial vertical longitudinal section of Figure 2. a

Figure 5 is a perspective of a modified secondary arrangement,

Figure 6 is a perspective of the partially folded blank utilized in the arrangement of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is' a perspective of another secondary arrangement, a

Figure 8is a perspective of the partially 5 folded blank utilized in the arrangement of Fi re 7,

, igure 9 is a section on line99 of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a perspectiveof still another secondary arrangement,

Figure 11 is a perspective of the partially folded blank, utilized in the arrangement of Fi ure 10, a

. igure 12 is a section on line 12--12 of Figure 10, and a Figure 13 is a perspective of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 4, reference numerals 15, 16, 17 and 18 designate panel portions of 'a preferably integral blank, the panel portions being arrangedin quadrilateral form to constitute the normally upright wall members of the article to be produced. Panel 15 has an extension 19 which lies behind the margin of panel 18 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. The opposite wall members are of equal length and the adjacent wall members are rectangularly related. The top ends of the wall members lie substantially 8 in the same horizontal plane, the height of members 15 and 17 being somewhat greater than the width of members 16 and 18. It will be understood that all lines of fold are preferably. scored.

Wall member/17 has an extension 20 at its lower edge, the extension comprising two panels 21 and 22, the first of which is adapted to extend across to the wall member 15 and the second of which is adapted to lie behind wall 15. Portion 22 has wings 23 and 24 i which are adapted to lie above inwardly folded extensions 25 and 26 of wall members 16 and 18 to form a rigid interlock, panel 21 underlying extensions 25 and 26 and constituting the main bottom portion of the container.

Wall 17 has an upward extension 27 comprising the panel portions 28 and 29, portion 28 being foldable on the hinging line 30 across to wall member 15 and portion 29 being foldable about a hinge line 31 to lie behind wall member 15.

Wall member 15 has a tab extension 32 which is foldable from a-position in which it extends downwardly against thenppe'r margin of wall 15 to a position in which it extends upwardly in uniplanar relation therewith. Wall member 16 has an extension generally indicated at 33 and wall member 18 an extension generally indicated at 34. Extensions 33 and 34 are foldable inwardly to underlie the top wall panel 28 and with tab 32 folded inwardly a closed container inthe form of a rectangular parallele iped as shown in Figure 1 is obtained. en the container has been emptied, it may be rearranged to assume the form shown in Figure 2.

In transforming the container, extension 27 is brought substantially to the position shown in Figure 3, and extensions 32, 33 and 34 brought into the upright positions also shown in Figure 3. Extension 34 has a triangular portion 35 and wing ortions 36 and 37. The wing portions are olded inwardly about their lines of demarcation until their angular upper edge portions 38 and 39 abut in a substantially horizontal line, edge portions 38 and 39 being formed by notching the upper extremity of extension 34. Hereupon extension 27 may be folded downwardly, and

tab 32 passed through a slot or o ning 29 provided in panel 29,1ine 31 thus eing positioned at the ridge of a symmetrically double sloped roof whose sides are constituted by panels 28 and 29. Panel 29 is longer than panel 28 by substantially the distance be underlie the ridge and are thus-retained inangular position to the triangular portion 35,

which constitutes a gable wall rtion. The abutment of edges 38 and 39 with the ridge, tends to insure the gable portion against inward flexing.

Extension 33 is substantially in the form of a T having a substantially triangular stem portion 40 similar to the triangular portion 35 of extension 34 and wings 41 and 42 disposable in quadrilateral relation with the end portions 43 and 44 overla ped the over lapped portions being receiva 1c in a slot 27 formed transversely of the ridge in panels 28 and 29. The overlapped portions 43 and 44 have downward projections 43 and 44 which extend below the ends of slot 27 so that the overlapped relation is securely maintained and the simulated chimney also serves to hold the roof against upward displacement relative to wall, member 15. The triangular portion 40 constitutes a gable wall portion.

Theexterior portions of the article may be decorated as desired, and appropriate decoration has been indicated in Figures 1 to 3. As an additional feature, anel 22 has a pair of fla s 45 and46 'stru'ck t erefrom and these may inserted through slots 47 and 48 in wall member 15 in simulation of awnings, as shown in Figure 2.

Slots which are utilized only in the secondary arrangement of the article are preferably formed in the manner indicated in Figure 13 wherein reference numeral 49 designates a portion of a blank, reference numerals 50 and 51 knife slits, and reference numeral 52 a strip of material between the slits. Strips as at 52' in the initial set up of the article close quite completely the space between slits 50 and 51. In transforming the article into its secondary arrangement, the strips 52 are removed so that a slot is lformed for the reception of a cooperating ta The bottom structure described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 is preferably utilized in the modifications to be hereinafter described and while in these modifications I have not shown flaps such as shown at 45 and 46, Figure 3, and the cooperating slots 47 and 48, it will be understood that these elements may be utilized in any of the modified forms if desired.

The general structure shown in Figures 5 and'6 will be readily understood from the preceding description. According to Figures 5 and 6, however, wall member 53 has an extension generally indicated at 54 which is foldable in simulation of a dormer. Prior to folding the extension is uniplanar and folded inwardly against wall member 53 so that the initial article is of the identical form illustrated in Figure 1.

Extension 54 terminates upwardly in a triangular gable portion 55 andhas lateral triangular wings 56'and 57, the latter being continued into the two panel portions 58, 59 and the tab 60. The free edge of the roof panel 61 is provided with a recess or opening 62 whose rear edge is ada ted to abut extension 54 to prevent the roof rom collapsthe article. The marginal portion of panel.

69 is transversely slit as at 71 and 72 to form the tabs 7 3, 74 and 75. As indicated in Figure 7, in. the secondary arrangement of the article, the top wall member is gripped by tabs 73 to 75, tabs 73 and 75 lying behind wall member 70 and tab 74 lying in front of the latter. With the roof thus set up, its ends are folded or bellowsed inwardly along the lines 76, 77, 78 and 79 so that the outer edges of each roof panel are upwardly converent.

all members 80 and 81 are provided at their, upper ends with triangular extensions 82 and 83 disposable between the end edges of the opposite roof sides to form a French type roof as distinguished frdm the ordinary gable roofs hereto ore described. Extension 82 has laterally projecting tabs 84 and 85 engageable inslots 86 and 87 in the down 'wardly folded roof portions, and extension 83 has tabs 88 and 89 engageable in slots 90 and 91. It will be understood that lines 92, 92a and 92?; are portions of the original straight ridge line.

According to Figures 10 to 12, wall members 93 and 94 have extensions 95 and 96 initially foldable in flat relation across the top of the hollow body and beneath the closure flap 97 which has a tongue 98 designed to lie behind wall member 99, the closure flap 97 being a continuation of wall member 100. Extension 95 comprises three panels 101, 102

and 103 demarked by scoring lines parallel to the top end of wall member 93, panels 102 and 103 being of the same length and the former having a triangular wing-104.

In the secondary arrangement of the article, extension 95 is withdrawn, win 104 bent outwardly at right angles to pane 102, panel 101 brought flat against closure flap 97 and tab 104 of wing 104 engaged in a slot 105 formed in the closure flap. Tab 103 at the extremity of tab 103 is engaged in a slot 106 in the closure flap so that panels 102 and 103 now are positioned as the sides of a double sloped roof of which wing 104 forms the I gable.

It will be understood that many other modifications are possible without departure from the invention and accordingly I do not limit myself to structure except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprisingquadrilaterally arranged upright wall members whose upper ends lie substantially in the same plane, one of said members having an extension tension having a portion adapted to extend flatly across to the opposite wall member and having an end portion 'foldable along a line parallel to the hinging axisof the extension and relative to the first mentionedportion to lie behind said opposite wallmember, said extension being also disposable to position said two portions as the sides of .a doublesloped roof, and means for retaining the free end of said end portion on the upper end of I hingedly connected to its upper end, said ex said opposite side member to sustain the extension in roof simulating position, said means comprising an extension on said opposite wall member engaged in an opening provided insaid end portlon, the upper portion of said last named extension bein to simulate a dormer and having ta s engageable in slots in the underlying roof portion.

- '2. A container comprising quadrilaterally arranged upright wall members whose upper ends llesubstantially in the same plane, one of said members having an extension hingedly connected to its upper end to extend flatly over the upper end of the container foldable as a closure member, said extension being foldable to represent a double-sloped roof having a ridge parallel to the hinging axis of said extension, means for supportin the free end of the roof extension',-when so Folded, to retain it in roof-simulating position, and an extension on an adjacent one of said members and comprising a substantially triangular portion disposable to. form a gable wall element having its terminal portion provided with laterall extending Wings, said wings .being foldab e in quadrilateral arrangement with their free ends overlapping, to form a chimney, the ridge portion of the roof being providedwith a transverse slot to receive said overlapped ends.

3. A container comprising quadrilaterally arranged upright wall members whose upper ends lie substantially in the same plane, one of said members having an extension hingedly connected to its upper end, said extension having-a portion adapted .to extend flatl across to the opposite wallmember and having an end portion foldable along a line parallel to the hinging axis of the extension and relative to the first mentioned portion to lie behind said opposite wall member, said extension being also disposable to position said two portions as the sides of a doublesloped roof, means for retaining the free end of said end portion on the upper end of said oppositeside member to sustain the extension in roof-simulating position, and an extension on one of the other wall members comprisinga substantially triangular part disosable to form a gable wall element and havmg its terminal portion provided with latney, the ridge portion of the roof being pro-1 vided with a transverse slot to receive said overlapped ends.

4. A container comprising quadrilaterally arranged upright wall members whose upper ends lie substantially in the same plane, one of said members "having an extension hingedly connected to its upper end, said extension having a portion adapted to extend.

flatly across to the opposite wall member and having an end portion foldable along a line parallel tothe hinging axis of the extension and relative to the first mentioned portion to lie behind said opposite wall member, said extension being also disposable to position said two portions as the sides of a doublesloped roof, means for retaining the free end of said end portion on the upper end of said opposite side member to sustain the extension in roof-simulating position, and a hinged extension on one of the other upright wall members adapted to underlie the first extension when the latter is in its flatly extending position and also disposable to form a gable wall element having side wings foldable to undifrlie the roof portions in contact therewit 5. In an article of the class described, a hollow body portion comprising quadrilaterally arranged upright wall members, one of said members having an extension adapted to assume an upright position and terminating in laterally projecting wings, said wings being disposable in quadrilateral arrangement with their free ends overlapping, and means presenting a slot for the reception of said overlapped ends.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM S. MARR. 

